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NCT Number: NCT07330492

Testing a Brief Reassurance Message Before a Musculoskeletal Clinic Visit

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if a brief, reassuring pre-visit message affects patients' expectations and planned follow-up care in adults with common musculoskeletal conditions. The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Does reading a brief reassurance message before a clinic visit change how interested patients are in additional care, such as follow-up visits, tests, injections, or surgery? * Does the message affect whether patients actually schedule follow-up care after the visit?

Researchers will compare participants who receive the pre-visit reassurance message to those who receive usual care to see if the message changes patients' enthusiasm for care or their follow-up decisions.

Participants will:

1. Read a short, easy-to-understand message about musculoskeletal symptoms and options for care (for those in the intervention group) 2. Complete a brief questionnaire rating their interest in follow-up visits, tests, injections, or surgery 3. Have their scheduled follow-up care recorded after the clinic visit

Active, Not Recruiting

This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

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Key information

Conditions

Any Non-traumatic Musculoskeletal Condition Arthritis Joint Diseases Musculoskeletal Diseases Osteoarthritis Rheumatic Diseases

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Musculoskeletal Institute, UT Health Austin

Austin, Texas, 78712, United States

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Adult (18+ years)
  • English or Spanish language literacy
  • Seeking musculoskeletal specialty care
  • Diagnosed with any non-traumatic musculoskeletal condition
  • New or return patient to clinic

Exclusion criteria

  • Cognitive or other impairment precluding completion of a survey on a tablet
  • Acute traumatic pathophysiology (fracture, dislocation, sprain/strain)

Treatment and study plan

Nudge intervention

Behavioral

The intervention involves reading a brief, easy-to-understand message prior to a musculoskeletal clinic visit. The message explains that many musculoskeletal symptoms are common, often related to normal age-related changes, and can improve with simple self-care. It emphasizes that visits, tests, injections, and treatments are often optional, and patients can choose how much care to pursue.

Other names: Reassurance message

Primary outcomes

  1. Pre-visit enthusiasm for additional care

    Time frame: Immediately after intervention

    The primary outcome is pre-visit enthusiasm for additional care, measured as participants' self-reported interest in pursuing a return visit, diagnostic tests, physical therapy, injections, or surgery. Participants rate each item on a 0-10 scale, where 0 indicates "not at all interested" and 10 indicates "definitely want it." This outcome is assessed immediately after the intervention (or usual care) and before the clinic visit.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Actual scheduled follow-up care

    Time frame: Immediately following clinic visit

    The secondary outcomes are actual scheduled follow-up care after the musculoskeletal clinic visit, including return visits, diagnostic tests, physical therapy, injections, and surgery. These outcomes are recorded as yes/no for each type of care and are collected from the patient's medical record after the visit.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Texas at Austin

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Randomized Controlled Trial of a Nudge Intervention for Common Musculoskeletal Conditions

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jan 9, 2026
Registry last updated
Jun 9, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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